Bears and Diabetics

“I am diabetic and can be subject to low blood sugar during the night. I am not supposed to be without some kind of emergency sugar source. Now obviously this creates an interesting issue regarding bear proofing the food supply and campsite. If I need the sugar I do not have the option of getting up and going to the bear bag or finding the bear can after ursine soccer practice.
Yet having something in the tent seems iffy. Any one have have any suggestions as to how to deal with this? I have looked all over the web and searched the archives in here and can't find this addressed anywhere.”

“Imho, you're more at risk from the low blood sugar than from sugar in a tent. On my thru hike I kept my food bag in the tent on many occasions. However, I generally didn't camp near shelters and hung my food in Jersey, the Smokies and Shenandoah NP.”

“Just try to avoid something with a strong oder of food? Or perhaps you could use a Ursack which supposedly stops the oders?”

“Have you tried the individually sealed gel packs for running etc? They are about 100cal each, pretty much pure glucose or fructose depending on manufacturer.”

“Yeah, Gu or some other brand might be a good choice for you. Be sure to get the noncaffeinated ones, though.”

“I agree with Tree...there has got to be some glucose gel that is relativly Smell Free for the woods.”

“Good idea.”

“Just chuck the wrapper out away from the tent after ya slurp it down.

And watch out where the huskies go..........”

“Wash the packages.
There will be a little smell still on them from manufactoring.”

“Ursine soccer practice?

I'd put the canister in a bag and suspend it. That way I could get right at it.

On the other hand bears are out at night and the odour might attract one.

This is a very important question and I hope an expert addresses it soon.

How about a couple of orange juice cartons; you know, the ones the kids bring to school and stick a straw into? There would be disposal questions, but it might just work.

Good luck.

Doug”

“Talk to your doctor about subligual glucose tabs. they disolve when you put them in your mouth. I doubt they have any oder at all.”

“I like Birch's and BackSlacker's suggestion. Ursack and others make special ziplock bags that are far more odor proof than the supermarket ones (I think this is what Adventurist was referring to) and you could keep the gel paks or glucose tabs in the bag. Ursacks odor barrier bags can be bought separately from the Ursack itself:

http://www.ursack.com/home.htm”

“Put only what you might need during the night in a small bag with a string attached to it. Set the bag away from the tent. Should you need it, just pull the bag to the tent by the string. In the rare case that a bear gets the bag, just assume that the bear is a diabetic, too, and that you just contributed to a "fix" for the poor animal.”

“Just thinking about it...I have some "evidence baggies" they are not supposed to let fumes or moisture out ...I wonder if that would work?

Rev if you want e-mail me your addy and I will send you a couple. Put some really yummie stuff in them, and slip them into a friend's pack one night...(as a practical joke)...(LOL)”

“just pull the bag to the tent by the string Hee-hee, sounds like what it is: fishing for bears, NS”

“my karate instructor is diabetic..and he munches on handfuls of oats when he bombs. I would think that would low on the scent level and easy to do. also how bad would 1-2 sugar cubes or a handful of dried peanuts be.”

“It's not the low blood sugar that I am concerned about. I know how to handle that and am never very far from the resources I need to deal with it. But at night, in a "zip-lock bag" of my own where the old critters have learned goodies lurk.... well that's a different issue. I am not trying to be paranoid. I have never had a problem with bears before, but I haven't been backpacking since the diabetes required this kind of intervention. So... fishing for bears seems... ummm... well I guess given the nature of fishing... I would be more worried about catching a skunk by mistake. Them's had to catch and release unscathed.”

“Just take a chomp out of the bear or skunk or whatever...that should get your blood sugar back up pronto!”

“Hey Draculyra, I tried those Indian ready made meals you recommended on the trail last week. they were the Bomb!”

“Oh yay! Some of those are surprisingly spicy for packaged food, which I think is awesome...good way to make yourself cry/clear out the old sinuses!”

“glutose paste comes in a sealed tube - completely odorless when unopened. It's not the tastiest thing, but it's specifically made for emergency use.

Also, there are delayed-release sugar concoctions, such as glucerna, that you could consume just prior to nitey-nite, if you wanted to play it safe.”

“Ready made Indian meals. Please fill me in.

Doug

Hi, AmyG.”

“LOL...Amy do they make Cake Frosting like that? No wait that would be a BAD thing to have in Bear Country.”

“yuo can get odor proof plastic zip-lock bags (look on backpackinglight.com). i wouldn't keep beef jerkey in them and then try to hide if from the bears under my pillow. that said, they filled one with peanut butter and left it for days in a cabin infested with mice and the buggers didn't touch it... so it must have something going for it. i would think with stuff that was not heavily scented (sugar cubes, etc versus mint candies) it would work.”

“They're from a brand called Tasty Bite, Gremlin! They also make Thai food. The packets come (unrefrigerated) in a foil-type bag, and all you do to eat them is heat the whole bag in a pot of water, open it up, and it's ready. Treebait would rather eat newt brains, but I think they're good! ;-)

http://www.tastybite.com/”

“Tree...where do you get the newtbrains? I mean are the fresh, I have been getting the canned stuff (tastes like lizard tongue) please let me in on this. (LOL)”

“XL... yes they do make cake frosting like that and it costs about 1/5th the price of the glucose gel. To my eyes it is no different. I don't think the bears could twist the little top off and suck it out so it's probly safe.”

“You may try what I do Rev. Keep a fist full of extra spicy beef jerky in your underwear. It wont freeze, and it will always be handy when you get hungry. ;) Bears wont bother you either, as the tighty whities will trap all odors in.”

“Thanks, Lyra.

Doug”